On Friday 26th February 2016, on the sidelines of a Council Of Ministers, the French Red Cross–PIROI and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) signed a partnership agreement concerning adaptation to climate change and the management of natural disaster and health risks

On Friday 26th February 2016, on the sidelines of a Council Of Ministers, the French Red Cross–PIROI and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) signed a partnership agreement concerning adaptation to climate change and the management of natural disaster and health risks.

This framework partnership agreement covers the region where IOC member states are located, as well as the countries with National Societies which are members of PIROI (Comoros, France, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and Tanzania). Under this agreement PIROI and the IOC agree to pool their respective skills, expertise and experience in order to conduct awareness-raising and population-protection activities, thus reducing the vulnerability of local populations as well as reinforcing communities’ resilience and response capacity.

The signature of this agreement follows on from an initial protocol drawn up in 2012. It represents an additional step in the commitment of both organisations to maximise the impact of their actions. The agreement stipulates that the partnership between PIROI and the IOC is intended to strengthen the capacities of those involved in disaster risk management, by allowing PIROI to work with the IOC as an operator, especially in terms of:

  • Advocacy for disaster risk management and adaptation to climate change,
  • Training – in particular as part of PIROI’s project of creating a regional skill centre for expertise, training and innovation, dedicated to risk management and the foreseeable effects of climate change,
  • Outreach to young and vulnerable populations,
  • Creation of teaching materials,
  • Response to natural and health disasters,
  • Recovery and reconstruction,
  • Research and innovation,

By way of reminder, the Indian Ocean Commission is an intergovernmental organisation that was created in 1984 to contribute to the development of the various activities of its members through regional cooperation. Members are: Union of the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and the European Outermost Region of Reunion Island. Find out more about the IOC on their website.